Lausanne, Switzerland, May 16, 2018 - Russia and The Netherlands are both undefeated after two rounds of play in the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Nations League, but something has to give when the two sides go head-to-head Thursday in Ekaterinburg. The Dutch have beaten Russia only three times in 18 world level encounters.
Head-to-Head
• Russia (including the Soviet Union and CIS) have won 15 of their 18 matches against The Netherlands in world level major competitions (Olympic Games, World Championships, World Cup, World Grand Prix and Grand Champions Cup), but lost their last two.
• These teams will meet for the first time in a world level major competition since 16 July 2017, when The Netherlands beat Russia in straight sets in the World Grand Prix group phase.
• On 10 July 2016, The Netherlands came from 2-0 down to beat Russia in five sets in the World Grand Prix bronze medal match. Earlier that campaign, Russia had beaten The Netherlands twice in the group stages (3-1 and 3-0).
• This will be a replay of the 2015 European Championships final, when Russia beat The Netherlands in straight sets.
Russia
• Russia started their VNL campaign with two wins: 3-1 against both Argentina and Thailand.
• They can win three matches in a row in a major level tournament for the first time since the 2016 Rio Olympic Games (4).
• That was also the last major tournament in which they won their first three matches of the tournament (4).
• Kseniia Parubets is the team top scorer with 45 points. She scored most points against Argentina (21) and against Thailand (24).
The Netherlands
• The Netherlands have opened the VNL with two wins: 3-0 against Thailand and 3-1 versus Argentina.
• The Netherlands could win their first three matches of a major world level tournament for the first time since the 2015 World Grand Prix, where they won all eight and ended up winning group 2.
• The Netherlands have won at least one set in each of their last 22 major world level matches, since a 3-0 defeat against Brazil in the semifinals of the 2016 World Grand Prix.
• On Wednesday, The Netherlands outblocked Argentina 14 to six. Seven different Dutch players scored from blocks that match.
• Four players reached double figures in scoring for Netherlands against Argentina: Anne Buijs (15), Celeste Plak (13), Yvon Belien (12) and Nicole Koolhaas (10).